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| - I have eaten Ethiopian food a couple of times in Cleveland and a couple of times in Washington D.C. and Zoma is as good as I have had. Even though Zoma recently opened, they managed to handle a party of 9 Yelpers on a week night when they were pretty busy. Located in the Cedar Lee area, Zoma has done a nice job of creating an inviting spot out of a couple of storefronts. The compact dining room has conventional tables plus 4 of the basket tables that are traditional for Ethiopian food. They have also carved out an area by the window for the coffee ceremony; where they fresh roast beans right in front of you filling the room with smoke and great smells. Decor, while not as extensive as some places is sufficient to transport you to a more exotic location.
The menu is divided into meat and vegetarian, with a single fish dish, there are also a number of combination plates. Descriptions are a bit light on details, but the server was happy to take time to explain things and make suggestions. Service is casual and our server did an excellent job, friendly, informative and enthusiastic.
I ordered the 4 item vegetable combination with red split lentils, chopped kale, Fasolia Tibs and cabbage all served on injera bread. First the injera is a large buckwheat spongy bread which you tear and use to eat the dishes with your hands; Zoma's injera is thin with a light nutty and tangy taste, it can be a bit addictive. Overall the vegetarian dishes were very good; the red split lentils have a bit of a kick and a hint of garlic, the Fasolia Tibs is sauteed green beans and carrots, the cabbage also has carrots and a nice garlic flavor, the chopped kale was tender and mild. I also tried the tomato salad which is chopped tomatoes with jalapenos and onions to make a refreshing contrast.
Prices are good, service was excellent and the food was what I expect from an Ethiopian restaurant, hopefully Zoma will thrive and be around for a long time. Head to Cleveland Heights for a great experience.
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